J ILL ELLISSCM 330

Deep Submergence Vehicle: Alvin

What is Alvin?

Manned research submarineSeats two scientists and one pilotCapable of reaching about 63% of the ocean

floorCapable of taking samples of rocks, sediment,

fluids and other sea lifeCan dive 4,500 m for up to six to ten hours

Alvin in its original form in the 1960s

Brief Background:

Built in 1964

Navy Ownership

Operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

4,200 dives

Alvin’s Fame and Glory

Most widely known for three discoveries:

* The location of a lost hydrogen bomb in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966

* The exploration of thermal vents in the 1970s

* The discovery of the sunken RMS Titanic in 1986

Inside Alvin

Submarine Simulator

How it Works

Maneuverability

• Uses 6 reversible thrusters

• Hover• Rest on the sea floor

Diving and Surfacing

• Controlled by gravity and buoyancy

• Water ballast and expendable steel weights

• Trim system to control pitch angle

Lighting the Depths of the Ocean

• 12 quartz iodide and metal halide lights

•Lights take up a large portion of the power source

Outer Equipment

Hydraulic, robotic arms Help to take samples and maneuver equipment and

materials outside of the submarineA large basket

Can carry up to 1,000 lbs of equipment and samples

Scientific Operational

Digital camerasMultibeam sonarsViewing lightsData system that

acquires real time data

CTFM sonar for flat bottom navigation

Altimeter, readout in meters every second

Six hydraulic valves

Subsystems

So What’s so Revolutionary about Alvin?

Instrumental in confirming the idea that the sea floor was spreading along the Mid Atlantic Ridge

Confirmed the existence of thermal ventsHave recorded over 300 new species

Including bacteria, clams, and tube worms

Alvin succeeded in bringing a National Geographic-like quality to ocean discovery

The New and Improved Alvin

Ability to dive 6,500 m

Capacity to carry more observers

Improved battery access

More robust sphere design

12 km fiber-optic cable

Able to reach 99% of the sea floor